pride Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Has anyone got any tips on how they siphon out large pleco poop? I use just the ordinary suction gravel vac which you jiggle up and down to start the flow but it struggles to pick up pleco poo. What do you guys that own larger tankbusters use?? I have a power head blowing over the substrate but this doesn't really make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katanaone Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 i use a product called Active-Bac by aquasonic and i find it helps break down large poops, food etc. for later syphoning. otherwise you could always place a mug under the buisness end of the syphon if the poop is only getting lifted half way or less and collect it in that. cheers...ryan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colfish Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 you could also use a larger syphon hose, it will create more suction through the tube. be carefull as to not remove the finer substrate. cheers; Colfish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie888 Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Adam, How long is the hose that you are using? IME, I use the shorter hose with a bucket just to suck up the bigger waste, other wise I would use the long one that go straight onto the garden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted January 6, 2005 Author Share Posted January 6, 2005 Charlie888 The length of hose I use is only about 2.5m and runs to a bucket so I can water my garden with it. You going to the meeting this month? Colfish, When you say a larger hose do you mean the length of the hose or the diameter of the hose? I have tried longer lengths running straight outside but the water flow wasn't as strong? Katanaone, I might try the mug idea as the poop gets almost halfway up. Just that after a week the substrate is covered in heavy telegraph wire poo from the pleco. I'll have a look into Active-Bac too. Thanks for your responses Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Take the vacuum off the end of the hose and just use the hose to suck up the crap. When you have got it all then put the vac back on and do the substrate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHL Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Or plant the substrate well; more fertiliser the better... Haven't vac'ed one of mine in 18 months; black gravel helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nannat Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 yeh josh, simple eh!they clean the glass but leave their own mess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wetfish Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 my experiance with pleco is they are pooing machines, thats all they seem to do. i gave up on them and got bristle nose. they are not so messy Wetfish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie888 Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 Adam, My gravel vac is only about 1.5m, but the extra metre should not make any difference. I can not go to this saturday meeting, because am invited to a dinner. Have a nice weekend. CHarlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Tang Posted January 8, 2005 Share Posted January 8, 2005 gotta love plecos, specially at christmas - they put up their own brown tinsell. personally, I use a hand-pump powered syphon hose about same diameter as 5 cent piece - hose is about 1.5m long - keep it about an inch of the gravel and you'll be in business... got mine at local pet supplies - should be able to find em at boat yards or bunnings, mitre 10 etc.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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